Just outside the Waitaki District Council main building in Thames St, a small crowd gathered. Oamaru local Stephen Carter created the Thames St alcohol-free event for people who wanted to go somewhere that was not a bar.
Criterion Hotel publican Sue Cameron-Duncan said staff were rushed off their feet.
The New Zealand Fire Service reported North Otago’s volunteer fire brigades were kept busy by bonfires. The Otematata brigade was called to a Kirkliston property just before midnight to put out a bonfire, then returned about 12.30am as another bonfire was lit 200m north of the original fire site.
A Fire Service spokesman said the people responsible were then "educated" about their choice.
About 20 minutes later, the brigade was called to Otematata township, but what appeared to be a bonfire was the reflection of candles.
About 1pm, the Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade was called to a bonfire on a Weston property that got into trees. The fire covered an area of 5sq m before it was dampened down by the crew. Yesterday morning, six fire crews from Kurow, Duntroon and the Rural Fire Authority extinguished a 2ha fire in Earthquake Rd, near Duntroon.
It was believed a fire in an offal pit had been fanned by strong winds. Fire crews were at the scene for about three hours dampening down hot areas.
Acting Sergeant Stuart Dowling, of Oamaru, said people were "generally well behaved" on New Year’s Eve.
